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{\an8}[Legend of the Magnate]
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{\an8}[Episode 9]
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Master Jin.
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Madam Jin.
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Manager Li.
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Manager Li.
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Manager Li.
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You're here.
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You're here.
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{\an8}[Kindhearted and Serene]
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Please sit down.
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I am the eldest son of the Kang family,
Kang Suyuan.
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Nice to see you all.
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{\an8}[Kindhearted and Serene]
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The fact that you've come today
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to help the Kang family out of this crisis
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is a great kindness.
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I won't thank each of you individually.
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Over the years,
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the Kang family's business
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has been smooth sailing,
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which made us arrogant enough
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to take on anything.
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This time, we accepted a court assignment
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to transport military supplies.
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We thought we could make a good profit,
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but inexplicably,
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a sudden fire burned everything to ashes.
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My father, in his distress,
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coughed up blood and died.
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I'm here in mourning clothes
to auction off our family property.
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What a disgrace of a son.
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But the country is at war,
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and people are dying by the thousands.
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If the military supplies problem
isn't solved,
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who knows how many more
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widows and orphans there will be.
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What are my troubles compared with that?
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So I invited you all here today
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to bid together.
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{\an8}[Kindhearted and Serene]
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Here are all the Kang family's lands,
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houses,
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and shops,
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stretching from Shanxi to Shaanxi
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and down to Sichuan.
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There are about 40,000 mu
of good farmland,
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217 shops,
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and 3 large restaurants.
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{\an8}[Kang Family's Property]
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{\an8}[Total value: 7 million taels of silver]
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All our assets are here.
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If anyone has doubts,
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please come forward and take a look.
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With so much property,
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wouldn't it be better
to borrow money instead?
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Would the Eight Families
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really stand by and do nothing?
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Madam.
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Allow me to speak.
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Actually,
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these assets
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came from my ancestor,
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who failed in his studies,
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switched to learning a craft
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and failed again,
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and later found
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a petty clerk's job in the army camp,
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earning only a few maces a month.
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Later,
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he was put in charge of transporting goods
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for the army
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and met many heroes
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from all over the country.
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My great-grandfather
was generous, righteous,
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and a man of his word.
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Though he was physically weak,
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everyone respected him
as a true man of honor.
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Later, several friends
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pooled money
to open an escort agency for him,
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and that's when
he suddenly became wealthy.
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As the old saying goes,
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"a gentleman's fortune
lasts only three generations."
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Today marks the third generation.
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Although the Eight Families
take care of each other,
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my great-grandfather once vowed that
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he would never burden his peers.
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So today,
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I ask friends from all over to make way.
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Even if the Kangs
can't do business anymore,
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we must not lose our dignity.
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That's all I have to say.
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Please place your bids.
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Whoever can buy the Kang family
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will be quite something.
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So how will
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the Eight Families rank from now on?
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Who knows?
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Everyone,
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I'll start.
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Six million taels.
102
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Thank you.
103
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Seven million taels!
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Nine million taels!
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Thank you.
106
00:05:37,120 --> 00:05:38,379
Eleven million taels!
107
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Why aren't you bidding?
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I don't want the hassle.
109
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Our family already has so many shops
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that we can barely manage them all.
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You have no idea.
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The more money, the more trouble.
113
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That's a clever way to put it.
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If I were truly clever,
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I wouldn't even be here.
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Thirteen million taels!
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Fourteen million taels!
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Everyone,
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enjoy your meal.
120
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The auction won't end
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until this banquet is over.
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Everyone might as well take a look
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{\an8}[Kindhearted and Serene]
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and think it over carefully.
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Ms. Su,
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why aren't you competing with them?
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My money doesn't grow on trees.
128
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Who wants to compete with them like that?
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So you can't
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win the property.
131
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Must it be about money?
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He's quite foolish.
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There are
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lots of things in this world
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more valuable than money.
136
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You'll see soon enough.
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More valuable things?
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{\an8}[Kindhearted and Serene]
139
00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:05,100
Congratulations.
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Should I congratulate you now
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00:07:07,600 --> 00:07:08,930
or wait a little longer?
142
00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:10,870
Congratulate me for what?
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For successfully joining
the Eight Families.
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Don't be ridiculous.
145
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There are plenty of rich people.
146
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Didn't you hear what she said?
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There are things
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more important than money.
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What things?
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Human lives.
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Someone's dead!
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Murder!
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Murder!
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Someone is dead!
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This...
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Here too!
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Here too!
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Here too!
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Mr. Zhang is dead.
160
00:07:55,649 --> 00:07:57,050
Manager Qin is also dead.
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Clean it up
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and report to the government.
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Everything was fine.
164
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Why are there deaths now?
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Everyone.
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Everyone.
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Please stay calm.
168
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A few friends are drunk.
169
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No one is dead. I promise.
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{\an8}[Kindhearted and Serene]
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Please continue enjoying your drinks.
172
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Don't listen to the servants' nonsense.
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Please.
174
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Please.
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Drink up.
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Make a decision already!
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Just decide who's the buyer
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and we'll leave!
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We'll do it right away.
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Here, have a drink.
181
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What happened?
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Mr. Zhang from Hangzhou
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and his bodyguards are dead.
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The Li family from Huzhou,
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and the Wang family from Suzhou.
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All those who made a bid just now are...
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Yes.
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Everyone who made a bid is dead.
189
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She's from the south.
190
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I'm sure she's going to
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drag our family down.
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We need to find a way to fight back.
193
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Ms. Su.
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My boss ordered me
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to make absolutely sure
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I secure the Kang family's property.
197
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Could you let me take it?
198
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Those people died horribly just now.
199
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It was you?
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You're not planning
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to join them, are you?
202
00:09:24,279 --> 00:09:24,720
No.
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I think
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someone is trying
to force the Eight Families to death,
205
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wanting to take everything
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without paying a coin.
207
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Was it done by people from the underworld?
208
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I don't think so.
209
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They don't have
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that kind of power.
211
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We should stay put
212
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and let the culprit show themselves.
213
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Dead people!
214
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There really are dead people!
215
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Make up your mind already!
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Everyone!
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Everyone!
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00:10:00,000 --> 00:10:02,240
Today I'm selling
the Kang family's assets.
219
00:10:02,240 --> 00:10:04,169
I truly don't know why people died.
220
00:10:04,480 --> 00:10:05,679
We're not doing a deal
221
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where we die!
222
00:10:07,629 --> 00:10:08,159
Let's go!
223
00:10:08,360 --> 00:10:09,629
Let's go!
224
00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:11,320
Every-
225
00:10:12,029 --> 00:10:13,509
Get back!
226
00:10:14,909 --> 00:10:16,200
-Sit down!
-Sit down!
227
00:10:30,509 --> 00:10:31,840
By His Highness's order,
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no one drinking here today
229
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is allowed to leave!
230
00:10:34,789 --> 00:10:36,509
If the Kang family's property isn't sold
231
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and the military supplies
can't be delivered,
232
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you can all prepare to die!
233
00:10:40,549 --> 00:10:41,679
Sit down, all of you!
234
00:10:42,909 --> 00:10:44,169
Continue the bidding!
235
00:10:59,029 --> 00:10:59,950
Seven million taels.
236
00:10:59,950 --> 00:11:01,330
{\an8}[Kindhearted and Serene]
237
00:11:01,480 --> 00:11:02,149
Manager Li,
238
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since they're all dead,
239
00:11:04,200 --> 00:11:05,669
I'll follow your bid.
240
00:11:06,320 --> 00:11:06,669
Okay.
241
00:11:07,200 --> 00:11:08,259
Alright, alright.
242
00:11:09,029 --> 00:11:09,629
Alright.
243
00:11:10,600 --> 00:11:11,600
Clever.
244
00:11:17,789 --> 00:11:18,990
Eight million taels.
245
00:11:19,960 --> 00:11:21,100
Ten million taels.
246
00:11:24,840 --> 00:11:25,960
Young man,
247
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you look unfamiliar.
248
00:11:29,389 --> 00:11:30,870
As long as you know it, that's enough.
249
00:11:30,870 --> 00:11:32,470
It's not unfamiliar, right?
250
00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:37,860
Eleven million taels!
251
00:11:38,919 --> 00:11:40,269
Everyone, I'll place a bid too.
252
00:11:40,269 --> 00:11:40,870
I'd like to see
253
00:11:40,870 --> 00:11:42,330
if I will get killed today.
254
00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:49,399
Fourteen million taels!
255
00:11:51,029 --> 00:11:52,360
Fifteen million taels!
256
00:11:53,870 --> 00:11:55,129
No matter what you bid,
257
00:11:55,269 --> 00:11:57,129
I'll always add another million.
258
00:11:57,360 --> 00:11:58,480
Everyone, forgive me.
259
00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:00,120
I must win today.
260
00:12:05,389 --> 00:12:06,049
Hurry up!
261
00:12:06,360 --> 00:12:07,159
Any more bids?
262
00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:11,379
Twenty million taels!
263
00:12:16,389 --> 00:12:17,120
What?
264
00:12:18,360 --> 00:12:20,360
Is Li Baiwan's family in the capital
265
00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:21,759
not eligible?
266
00:12:29,029 --> 00:12:30,830
You're joining too, aren't you?
267
00:12:31,600 --> 00:12:32,320
Yes.
268
00:12:33,389 --> 00:12:34,450
Quite lively here.
269
00:12:36,789 --> 00:12:38,789
But you're not go to do this...
270
00:12:39,789 --> 00:12:41,120
to me and Mr. Gu, are you?
271
00:12:42,389 --> 00:12:43,440
What are you trying to do?
272
00:12:43,440 --> 00:12:44,960
I'm thinking the same as you.
273
00:12:44,960 --> 00:12:46,620
I want to snatch this bargain.
274
00:12:50,440 --> 00:12:52,039
Didn't you say you'd help me?
275
00:12:53,600 --> 00:12:54,389
Come on.
276
00:12:56,879 --> 00:12:58,210
What was your bid again?
277
00:12:58,509 --> 00:12:59,320
Twenty million taels.
278
00:12:59,320 --> 00:12:59,870
Twenty...
279
00:12:59,870 --> 00:13:01,070
Twenty-one million!
280
00:13:04,549 --> 00:13:05,889
Twenty-five million!
281
00:13:08,269 --> 00:13:09,669
Twenty-six million!
282
00:13:10,360 --> 00:13:11,870
Even if you boiled Wang Tiangui's bones
into oil,
283
00:13:11,870 --> 00:13:13,730
you couldn't get that much money.
284
00:13:14,149 --> 00:13:15,549
I have it in my draft bank.
285
00:13:16,909 --> 00:13:17,970
I'll lend it to him.
286
00:13:18,750 --> 00:13:20,480
I'm doing this for your father.
287
00:13:20,480 --> 00:13:21,789
Why are you interfering?
288
00:13:21,789 --> 00:13:22,629
Spending 26 million
289
00:13:22,629 --> 00:13:23,820
can make you happy?
290
00:13:24,509 --> 00:13:26,039
Do you know what I want most?
291
00:13:26,320 --> 00:13:28,279
I want to see you and my father
292
00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:30,059
defeated just once.
293
00:13:34,389 --> 00:13:35,269
Childish.
294
00:13:47,470 --> 00:13:48,559
Mr. Gu, right?
295
00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:51,259
Please come over here.
296
00:13:52,240 --> 00:13:52,840
Everyone,
297
00:13:53,080 --> 00:13:54,840
if there are no objections,
298
00:13:55,929 --> 00:13:57,659
the Kang family's property...
299
00:13:58,840 --> 00:14:00,299
now belongs to Taiyufeng.
300
00:14:06,549 --> 00:14:07,350
Manager Kang,
301
00:14:07,460 --> 00:14:09,480
26 million taels is a large sum.
302
00:14:09,909 --> 00:14:12,120
Please allow me
to settle it within 10 days.
303
00:14:12,120 --> 00:14:12,720
Thank you.
304
00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:16,840
With so much money,
305
00:14:17,629 --> 00:14:18,830
why did you kill them?
306
00:14:19,279 --> 00:14:20,509
Madam, what are you thinking?
307
00:14:20,509 --> 00:14:21,610
I didn't kill them.
308
00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:22,750
Good.
309
00:14:23,149 --> 00:14:24,029
From now on, Taiyufeng
310
00:14:24,029 --> 00:14:25,960
will be part of the Eight Families.
311
00:14:26,029 --> 00:14:27,690
Congratulations, Mr. Gu.
312
00:14:30,120 --> 00:14:31,179
Congratulations.
313
00:14:33,840 --> 00:14:35,299
His Highness has arrived!
314
00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:38,480
Why is His Highness here?
315
00:14:48,909 --> 00:14:49,769
Your Highness.
316
00:14:55,399 --> 00:14:57,000
The rebels are running rampant,
317
00:14:56,840 --> 00:15:00,080
{\an8}[Prince Shen]
318
00:14:58,000 --> 00:15:00,509
and the imperial court
is pressing urgently.
319
00:15:00,509 --> 00:15:02,110
Without money and supplies,
320
00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:03,840
the army can't be sustained.
321
00:15:04,840 --> 00:15:06,769
You can't afford to take the blame.
322
00:15:07,149 --> 00:15:08,720
I am selling off my family property.
323
00:15:08,720 --> 00:15:09,360
Within 10 days,
324
00:15:09,360 --> 00:15:11,289
I'll repay the military supplies.
325
00:15:11,789 --> 00:15:12,840
Ten days?
326
00:15:13,120 --> 00:15:15,120
Is this what the Eight Families do?
327
00:15:18,080 --> 00:15:19,480
The country is in crisis,
328
00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:21,440
yet you're all here haggling.
329
00:15:23,120 --> 00:15:24,649
The imperial court says I'm
330
00:15:25,509 --> 00:15:26,820
too soft-hearted.
331
00:15:27,909 --> 00:15:29,370
Well, I have no choice now.
332
00:15:29,720 --> 00:15:30,840
Lock them all up.
333
00:15:32,110 --> 00:15:33,480
At least I'll have something to report.
334
00:15:33,480 --> 00:15:34,070
Yes!
335
00:15:34,120 --> 00:15:34,980
Take them away!
336
00:15:39,029 --> 00:15:40,750
If you don't pay within 3 days...
337
00:15:40,750 --> 00:15:41,259
-Go!
-Go!
338
00:15:41,259 --> 00:15:42,659
None of you will survive.
339
00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:44,250
Hurry up!
340
00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:44,690
Move!
341
00:15:44,720 --> 00:15:45,120
Hurry!
342
00:15:45,720 --> 00:15:46,179
Move it!
343
00:15:46,200 --> 00:15:46,639
Move!
344
00:15:47,029 --> 00:15:47,389
Move!
345
00:15:47,600 --> 00:15:47,909
Go!
346
00:15:47,960 --> 00:15:48,389
Move!
347
00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:49,720
Go!
348
00:15:51,909 --> 00:15:53,570
You think having a bit of money
349
00:15:53,960 --> 00:15:55,340
makes you humans?
350
00:15:55,480 --> 00:15:56,360
To me,
351
00:15:57,669 --> 00:16:00,169
you're nothing.
352
00:16:00,720 --> 00:16:01,120
Move!
353
00:16:02,120 --> 00:16:02,600
Hurry!
354
00:16:04,029 --> 00:16:04,600
Move!
355
00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:05,669
Hurry!
356
00:16:12,629 --> 00:16:13,240
Well?
357
00:16:13,870 --> 00:16:15,049
Your brother's head
358
00:16:15,080 --> 00:16:16,740
will fall faster than his hat.
359
00:16:22,200 --> 00:16:22,600
Gu...
360
00:17:00,600 --> 00:17:01,460
It's gone sour.
361
00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:07,858
Stop drinking—it's spoiled.
362
00:17:09,240 --> 00:17:10,838
Sour or not, it's still food.
363
00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:19,720
Mr. Gu,
364
00:17:20,480 --> 00:17:21,200
tell them
365
00:17:21,750 --> 00:17:23,400
you're not one of the Eight Families.
366
00:17:23,400 --> 00:17:25,000
You don't need to suffer here.
367
00:17:25,000 --> 00:17:25,750
I told them,
368
00:17:26,000 --> 00:17:27,200
but they wouldn't listen.
369
00:17:27,200 --> 00:17:27,750
They think
370
00:17:27,750 --> 00:17:29,480
since I bought the Kang family's property,
371
00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:31,339
I'm one of the Eight Families now.
372
00:17:31,480 --> 00:17:33,480
Let's face this hardship together.
373
00:17:33,829 --> 00:17:35,160
I'm afraid by tomorrow,
374
00:17:35,509 --> 00:17:36,720
even this spoiled porridge will be gone.
375
00:17:36,720 --> 00:17:37,920
Would you like a bowl?
376
00:17:39,190 --> 00:17:42,660
{\an8}[Wanyuandang]
377
00:17:41,509 --> 00:17:43,069
I came to take over Shanxi.
378
00:17:48,509 --> 00:17:49,240
With the way they run things—
379
00:17:49,240 --> 00:17:51,299
small operations, small ambitions—
380
00:17:51,829 --> 00:17:53,559
they can't keep their footing.
381
00:17:53,829 --> 00:17:54,509
Before I came,
382
00:17:54,509 --> 00:17:55,640
I told His Highness.
383
00:17:57,069 --> 00:17:59,069
I'm opening a draft bank right here.
384
00:17:59,789 --> 00:18:01,480
I've already thought of the name.
385
00:18:01,480 --> 00:18:03,640
It will be called Taiping Bank.
386
00:18:04,960 --> 00:18:05,640
From Pingyao,
387
00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:07,900
it will spread to all the nearby counties
388
00:18:07,920 --> 00:18:09,720
and eventually across
the entire Qing Empire.
389
00:18:09,720 --> 00:18:11,809
Taiping Bank will be a big pouch,
390
00:18:11,920 --> 00:18:13,240
swallowing every draft bank
391
00:18:13,240 --> 00:18:14,349
in Pingyao.
392
00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:16,680
It's a fine business.
393
00:18:17,789 --> 00:18:19,319
The Li family in the capital
394
00:18:19,440 --> 00:18:21,640
will take over the draft bank business.
395
00:18:22,480 --> 00:18:24,549
Three million taels in ransom
for each family?
396
00:18:24,549 --> 00:18:26,549
Isn't that bleeding the locals dry?
397
00:18:27,029 --> 00:18:28,960
How could he even come up with that?
398
00:18:29,269 --> 00:18:30,150
The imperial court
has been asking us for money
399
00:18:30,150 --> 00:18:31,549
quite a lot over the past few years.
400
00:18:31,549 --> 00:18:33,029
Have they won any battles?
401
00:18:33,680 --> 00:18:35,000
Just wait till I get out.
402
00:18:35,000 --> 00:18:36,400
I have connections with a few people
403
00:18:36,400 --> 00:18:37,599
in the Grand Council.
404
00:18:37,829 --> 00:18:40,349
I'll buy myself an imperial censor
and impeach him!
405
00:18:40,349 --> 00:18:41,880
Mr. Sun, don't be angry.
406
00:18:42,960 --> 00:18:43,920
In this situation,
407
00:18:43,920 --> 00:18:45,509
without paying, none of us is getting out.
408
00:18:45,509 --> 00:18:46,349
How will you ever get the chance
409
00:18:46,349 --> 00:18:47,269
to buy yourself an imperial censor
410
00:18:47,269 --> 00:18:48,200
and impeach him?
411
00:18:48,829 --> 00:18:49,970
He's the famous
412
00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:51,240
Prince of the Iron Helmet.
413
00:18:51,240 --> 00:18:52,970
His words can shake mountains.
414
00:18:53,160 --> 00:18:54,819
You think you can impeach him?
415
00:18:55,349 --> 00:18:56,410
You've got a point.
416
00:18:56,789 --> 00:18:58,650
I'm just curious about one thing.
417
00:18:58,829 --> 00:19:00,630
At the Jinyang Villa gathering,
418
00:19:01,000 --> 00:19:02,269
all the people we invited
419
00:19:02,269 --> 00:19:04,029
are from the major banks in Shanxi.
420
00:19:04,029 --> 00:19:05,630
How did they know so clearly?
421
00:19:05,720 --> 00:19:06,880
They blocked the door
422
00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:08,210
and arrested everyone.
423
00:19:08,720 --> 00:19:09,589
I don't think
424
00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:11,839
this is as simple as it looks.
425
00:19:20,029 --> 00:19:20,720
Father,
426
00:19:21,029 --> 00:19:21,829
you're here.
427
00:19:28,029 --> 00:19:28,680
Well now.
428
00:19:29,390 --> 00:19:30,789
It all depends on you now.
429
00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:33,000
You two talk.
430
00:19:38,920 --> 00:19:40,640
Why are you always hanging around
431
00:19:40,640 --> 00:19:41,880
with that exile?
432
00:19:43,200 --> 00:19:45,160
You already know what we've been doing?
433
00:19:45,160 --> 00:19:46,309
We created a storefront pawning
434
00:19:46,309 --> 00:19:47,910
and a door-to-door pawning.
435
00:19:47,960 --> 00:19:48,680
We've turned Pingyao
436
00:19:48,680 --> 00:19:49,589
upside down.
437
00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:50,960
It was truly satisfying.
438
00:19:50,960 --> 00:19:52,160
You may be satisfied,
439
00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:54,109
but who will take the blame for harboring
440
00:19:54,109 --> 00:19:54,680
an exile?
441
00:19:54,720 --> 00:19:56,240
That won't fall on you.
442
00:19:56,269 --> 00:19:57,000
Don't worry.
443
00:19:57,400 --> 00:19:58,369
Just tell me,
444
00:19:58,680 --> 00:20:00,509
why did you really come here?
445
00:20:10,680 --> 00:20:11,880
I sincerely apologize
446
00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:13,700
for the inconvenience.
447
00:20:16,349 --> 00:20:18,069
His Highness asked me to check
448
00:20:18,480 --> 00:20:19,680
whether you ate well.
449
00:20:24,440 --> 00:20:26,680
You are all his guests.
450
00:20:27,509 --> 00:20:28,200
If there's anything lacking
451
00:20:28,200 --> 00:20:29,799
lacking in our hospitality,
452
00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:31,509
please forgive us.
453
00:20:32,069 --> 00:20:34,789
Your prince is too kind.
454
00:20:38,269 --> 00:20:39,349
I don't have
455
00:20:39,680 --> 00:20:40,609
3 million taels.
456
00:20:40,960 --> 00:20:42,690
All my money is invested in tea.
457
00:20:44,269 --> 00:20:45,240
Go confiscate my household
458
00:20:45,240 --> 00:20:46,640
with an imperial decree.
459
00:20:46,829 --> 00:20:47,829
I'm not qualified
460
00:20:47,829 --> 00:20:48,880
to be His Highness's guest.
461
00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:50,480
I don't have that much money.
462
00:20:51,880 --> 00:20:52,940
About this matter,
463
00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:55,130
we've already spoken to His Highness.
464
00:20:55,400 --> 00:20:55,930
However,
465
00:20:56,069 --> 00:20:57,869
His Highness has a noble status.
466
00:20:58,309 --> 00:20:59,289
If he takes back
467
00:20:59,589 --> 00:21:00,640
what he said,
468
00:21:00,829 --> 00:21:02,440
he'll lose face, won't he?
469
00:21:03,309 --> 00:21:04,160
The money in our draft banks
470
00:21:04,160 --> 00:21:05,789
belongs to the people of Shanxi.
471
00:21:05,789 --> 00:21:07,190
If it's all taken at once,
472
00:21:07,269 --> 00:21:08,869
how will the people survive?
473
00:21:09,000 --> 00:21:10,000
The imperial court
474
00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:11,400
has already lost Jiangnan.
475
00:21:11,400 --> 00:21:12,400
Now they want Shanxi
476
00:21:12,400 --> 00:21:13,660
to fall into chaos too?
477
00:21:16,079 --> 00:21:17,130
Young man,
478
00:21:18,109 --> 00:21:19,400
you look unfamiliar.
479
00:21:20,480 --> 00:21:23,079
May I know your name?
480
00:21:23,349 --> 00:21:24,349
Everyone in this room
481
00:21:24,349 --> 00:21:25,349
has only one name—
482
00:21:26,069 --> 00:21:27,109
Silver.
483
00:21:27,269 --> 00:21:28,269
Nickname: Ingot.
484
00:21:29,240 --> 00:21:30,039
That's right.
485
00:21:30,829 --> 00:21:31,509
Sir,
486
00:21:32,349 --> 00:21:34,000
stop pretending to be polite.
487
00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:35,160
State your terms.
488
00:21:36,269 --> 00:21:36,789
Fine.
489
00:21:38,200 --> 00:21:40,000
This time, His Highness brought
490
00:21:40,109 --> 00:21:41,769
a draft bank from the capital,
491
00:21:42,069 --> 00:21:43,789
planning to station it in Shanxi
492
00:21:43,789 --> 00:21:46,230
to manage the army's grain and funds.
493
00:21:46,880 --> 00:21:48,160
If you can't raise
494
00:21:48,240 --> 00:21:49,619
the 3 million taels,
495
00:21:50,069 --> 00:21:52,200
that draft bank can pay on your behalf.
496
00:21:53,480 --> 00:21:55,880
You just need to sign
and stamp your names.
497
00:21:58,160 --> 00:21:58,869
As for
498
00:21:59,069 --> 00:22:00,480
when you repay it,
499
00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:05,119
you may discuss that among yourselves.
500
00:22:05,309 --> 00:22:06,230
Robbers.
501
00:22:06,349 --> 00:22:07,349
Strange things happen every year,
502
00:22:07,349 --> 00:22:08,789
but this year is overflowing with them.
503
00:22:08,789 --> 00:22:10,519
Pingyao now has a Wanyuandang,
504
00:22:10,549 --> 00:22:11,480
said to be owned
505
00:22:11,549 --> 00:22:13,750
by the son of Li Baiwan from the capital.
506
00:22:13,829 --> 00:22:16,029
And now there's another big draft bank.
507
00:22:17,509 --> 00:22:18,480
Our Eight Families
508
00:22:18,480 --> 00:22:20,029
need a total of 24 million taels,
509
00:22:20,029 --> 00:22:20,829
and they do in fact have it.
510
00:22:20,829 --> 00:22:22,680
How can they be so rich?
511
00:22:23,240 --> 00:22:24,069
Could it be
512
00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:26,529
the God of Wealth himself has arrived?
513
00:22:28,269 --> 00:22:29,349
Madam Jin,
514
00:22:29,880 --> 00:22:30,789
this draft bank
515
00:22:31,200 --> 00:22:34,160
belongs to Mr. Li, Li Wantang.
516
00:22:34,509 --> 00:22:35,970
It's called Taiping Bank.
517
00:22:36,160 --> 00:22:38,819
If you all accept this account
518
00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:40,490
and are willing to sign,
519
00:22:40,829 --> 00:22:42,019
I guarantee
520
00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:44,059
you'll be released
521
00:22:44,269 --> 00:22:45,400
immediately.
522
00:22:51,480 --> 00:22:52,509
This Li Baiwan
523
00:22:52,750 --> 00:22:53,960
is too ruthless.
524
00:22:54,829 --> 00:22:56,890
Just to establish himself in Shanxi,
525
00:22:57,000 --> 00:22:57,829
there's no need
526
00:22:57,829 --> 00:22:59,569
to ruin all of us.
527
00:23:00,200 --> 00:23:01,000
What is this?
528
00:23:02,109 --> 00:23:03,910
Using officials to pressure us?
529
00:23:05,829 --> 00:23:07,089
Since that's the case,
530
00:23:07,920 --> 00:23:08,640
you can
531
00:23:09,200 --> 00:23:10,859
keep drinking your porridge!
532
00:23:23,200 --> 00:23:23,789
Father,
533
00:23:24,680 --> 00:23:25,809
is this really okay?
534
00:23:27,880 --> 00:23:28,769
You...
535
00:23:30,069 --> 00:23:30,789
Just be good.
536
00:23:30,789 --> 00:23:31,990
Don't cause trouble.
537
00:23:32,269 --> 00:23:33,720
As long as you can watch and learn
538
00:23:33,720 --> 00:23:34,650
from a distance,
539
00:23:35,440 --> 00:23:36,640
that's all I ask.
540
00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:37,859
Father,
541
00:23:38,750 --> 00:23:40,000
I believe businessmen
542
00:23:40,000 --> 00:23:40,960
should keep their word.
543
00:23:40,960 --> 00:23:41,960
What you're doing
544
00:23:42,240 --> 00:23:43,440
is robbery,
545
00:23:43,509 --> 00:23:44,640
bullying with power,
546
00:23:44,640 --> 00:23:45,480
kicking people when they're down—
547
00:23:45,480 --> 00:23:46,609
it's unscrupulous!
548
00:24:17,509 --> 00:24:18,569
My good son,
549
00:24:20,680 --> 00:24:21,480
I think you
550
00:24:21,480 --> 00:24:23,349
should just go back, study hard,
551
00:24:23,400 --> 00:24:25,259
and try to earn an official title.
552
00:24:28,480 --> 00:24:29,940
Trying to be a good person?
553
00:24:32,089 --> 00:24:36,930
{\an8}[Loan Ledger of Taiyufeng,
Eighth Year of the Xianfeng Reign]
554
00:24:35,029 --> 00:24:37,480
How much silver did His Highness get
555
00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:40,480
from Taiping Bank that made him
556
00:24:40,549 --> 00:24:41,720
pull off this stunt?
557
00:24:43,480 --> 00:24:45,859
No one really knows, I think.
558
00:24:46,589 --> 00:24:47,700
I just feel that
559
00:24:48,069 --> 00:24:50,200
you've barely joined the Eight Families,
560
00:24:50,200 --> 00:24:52,400
and already encountered such trouble.
561
00:25:03,000 --> 00:25:03,750
It's fake.
562
00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:05,920
Fake? What's fake?
563
00:25:06,240 --> 00:25:08,390
Which businessman
564
00:25:09,160 --> 00:25:11,000
would keep all their money
565
00:25:11,029 --> 00:25:13,039
in one place?
566
00:25:13,269 --> 00:25:14,480
Besides,
567
00:25:15,069 --> 00:25:16,869
which draft bank
568
00:25:17,109 --> 00:25:18,269
could even come up with
569
00:25:18,269 --> 00:25:21,109
3 million taels in cash?
570
00:25:22,829 --> 00:25:25,269
I think the demand for silver
is just a pretext.
571
00:25:25,269 --> 00:25:26,880
Taiping Bank wants to
572
00:25:26,920 --> 00:25:28,480
take over all the business
573
00:25:28,509 --> 00:25:29,920
of our draft banks
574
00:25:30,029 --> 00:25:31,559
for themselves.
575
00:25:31,829 --> 00:25:33,309
That's their real goal.
576
00:25:34,029 --> 00:25:36,720
Once these wealthy families
of the Eight Families
577
00:25:36,720 --> 00:25:38,309
sign the loan,
578
00:25:39,029 --> 00:25:40,160
they'll be as good as
579
00:25:40,509 --> 00:25:42,829
meat on someone's board.
580
00:25:43,589 --> 00:25:45,349
This Li Baiwan...
581
00:25:47,349 --> 00:25:48,849
is quite cunning.
582
00:26:11,890 --> 00:26:13,400
Is His Highness coming?
583
00:26:14,799 --> 00:26:16,089
I don't know.
584
00:26:19,160 --> 00:26:19,880
Everyone,
585
00:26:19,920 --> 00:26:21,400
please forgive me.
586
00:26:21,880 --> 00:26:23,000
I had no choice
587
00:26:23,029 --> 00:26:25,220
but to meet you in prison.
588
00:26:27,400 --> 00:26:28,250
Li Wantang?
589
00:26:29,829 --> 00:26:30,589
Mr. Li,
590
00:26:30,640 --> 00:26:32,069
are you here to mock us?
591
00:26:32,269 --> 00:26:33,200
I wouldn't dare.
592
00:26:35,109 --> 00:26:37,039
We're all in the same line of trade.
593
00:26:37,200 --> 00:26:38,680
I just came to see
594
00:26:38,750 --> 00:26:40,170
if I could be of any help.
595
00:26:42,740 --> 00:26:43,509
You could.
596
00:26:44,640 --> 00:26:45,480
Hurry and tell His Highness
597
00:26:45,480 --> 00:26:46,640
to release us.
598
00:26:47,269 --> 00:26:48,589
We didn't kill anyone
or set fire to anything.
599
00:26:48,589 --> 00:26:49,589
Keeping us here?
600
00:26:50,549 --> 00:26:51,589
How undignified.
601
00:26:53,880 --> 00:26:56,029
Since ancient times,
officials have had two mouths—
602
00:26:56,029 --> 00:26:58,490
the words from the two mouths
are different.
603
00:26:58,509 --> 00:27:00,440
Reasoning with them doesn't work.
604
00:27:01,880 --> 00:27:03,349
I can pay the 24 million taels first
605
00:27:03,349 --> 00:27:04,420
to help you
606
00:27:04,920 --> 00:27:07,109
escape this disaster.
607
00:27:07,589 --> 00:27:08,589
What do you think?
608
00:27:09,269 --> 00:27:10,910
What a show of power.
609
00:27:11,880 --> 00:27:13,529
The whole Qing Empire
610
00:27:13,720 --> 00:27:15,380
only makes this much in a year.
611
00:27:16,269 --> 00:27:18,130
What exactly are you trying to do?
612
00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:23,869
Times are tough, Madam.
613
00:27:25,509 --> 00:27:26,930
Those of us in business
614
00:27:27,160 --> 00:27:29,210
need to work together even more.
615
00:27:29,960 --> 00:27:30,680
I've been in the capital
616
00:27:30,680 --> 00:27:32,809
for too long, rarely visiting Shanxi,
617
00:27:33,029 --> 00:27:34,269
but I still have
618
00:27:34,880 --> 00:27:35,640
some influential connections
619
00:27:35,640 --> 00:27:37,200
at the imperial court.
620
00:27:39,750 --> 00:27:40,829
Consider this 3 million taels
621
00:27:40,829 --> 00:27:43,920
as my entry into the Eight Families.
622
00:27:44,509 --> 00:27:45,549
If you have any obstacles
623
00:27:45,549 --> 00:27:47,279
to overcome,
624
00:27:47,480 --> 00:27:48,210
Taiping Bank
625
00:27:48,549 --> 00:27:50,789
will help smooth them over.
626
00:27:52,509 --> 00:27:53,789
I'm not trying to take over
627
00:27:53,789 --> 00:27:54,960
the Eight Families.
628
00:27:55,720 --> 00:27:58,259
It's out of respect for your predecessors,
629
00:27:58,920 --> 00:28:00,720
offering my humble assistance.
630
00:28:02,960 --> 00:28:05,349
That's a bit much.
631
00:28:06,269 --> 00:28:08,130
That's not the right way to see it.
632
00:28:15,880 --> 00:28:16,509
Fine.
633
00:28:17,309 --> 00:28:18,720
If you don't agree,
634
00:28:19,549 --> 00:28:21,349
I'll just return to the capital.
635
00:28:21,480 --> 00:28:22,069
Fine.
636
00:28:22,829 --> 00:28:23,269
Fine.
637
00:28:23,960 --> 00:28:26,029
But the military situation is urgent,
638
00:28:26,029 --> 00:28:28,400
and His Highness has a fiery temper.
639
00:28:30,109 --> 00:28:31,440
When I came, he said,
640
00:28:32,920 --> 00:28:34,200
"The Eight Families"
641
00:28:34,269 --> 00:28:36,490
"hold King Li's Treasure."
642
00:28:37,200 --> 00:28:39,720
"Why won't they let go of
a little profits?"
643
00:28:41,549 --> 00:28:42,750
"It's infuriating."
644
00:28:43,240 --> 00:28:44,789
King Li's Treasure?
645
00:28:45,400 --> 00:28:46,480
Every child in Shanxi
646
00:28:46,480 --> 00:28:47,509
grows up knowing this story,
647
00:28:47,509 --> 00:28:48,109
right?
648
00:28:48,440 --> 00:28:48,789
Yes.
649
00:28:49,109 --> 00:28:50,640
You actually believe that?
650
00:28:52,589 --> 00:28:53,269
Weren't you here
651
00:28:53,269 --> 00:28:54,799
for King Li's Treasure too?
652
00:28:56,829 --> 00:28:59,559
Back then,
King Li's army was incredibly fierce.
653
00:29:00,240 --> 00:29:01,480
They came out of the Qinling Mountains,
654
00:29:01,480 --> 00:29:03,160
passed through the Taihang Mountains,
655
00:29:03,160 --> 00:29:05,819
broke through Tongguan Pass,
flooded Kaifeng,
656
00:29:06,160 --> 00:29:07,890
swept across the Yellow River,
657
00:29:08,029 --> 00:29:09,960
and conquered the Central Plains.
658
00:29:09,960 --> 00:29:10,480
But what happened
659
00:29:10,480 --> 00:29:12,210
after they got all that wealth?
660
00:29:13,789 --> 00:29:15,309
The generals indulged in pleasure,
661
00:29:15,309 --> 00:29:16,589
the soldiers feared death,
662
00:29:16,589 --> 00:29:17,670
and in the end
663
00:29:17,720 --> 00:29:19,480
they came to a mysterious downfall.
664
00:29:19,480 --> 00:29:20,539
What was it all for?
665
00:29:20,880 --> 00:29:22,539
That's truly a terrible omen.
666
00:29:24,309 --> 00:29:27,000
Those words are really insightful.
667
00:29:31,170 --> 00:29:33,750
You're... Gu Pingyuan?
668
00:29:40,440 --> 00:29:40,920
Yes.
669
00:29:43,000 --> 00:29:45,400
My son mentions you often.
670
00:29:50,309 --> 00:29:52,549
Your words show great insight.
671
00:29:53,720 --> 00:29:54,440
However,
672
00:29:55,109 --> 00:29:56,970
that's a scholar's perspective.
673
00:29:57,160 --> 00:29:59,509
If you want to go into business
in the future,
674
00:29:59,509 --> 00:30:01,680
that would be a big mistake.
675
00:30:02,480 --> 00:30:03,279
What mistake?
676
00:30:07,109 --> 00:30:08,269
Gold and silver
677
00:30:08,720 --> 00:30:10,589
are public tools of the world.
678
00:30:11,309 --> 00:30:13,309
They carry no inherent good or evil.
679
00:30:13,720 --> 00:30:15,049
People are responsible
680
00:30:15,240 --> 00:30:16,569
for their own mistakes.
681
00:30:17,240 --> 00:30:18,440
Blaming money itself
682
00:30:18,880 --> 00:30:19,750
makes no sense.
683
00:30:22,349 --> 00:30:24,660
There is no money that cannot be used,
684
00:30:26,789 --> 00:30:28,720
no person that cannot be employed.
685
00:30:33,349 --> 00:30:34,269
Remember that.
686
00:31:13,109 --> 00:31:15,640
I, Li Wantang,
pay respects to Your Highness.
687
00:31:16,549 --> 00:31:18,000
Your plan didn't work.
688
00:31:41,400 --> 00:31:42,460
The imperial court
689
00:31:43,750 --> 00:31:46,269
ordered me to go to Shandong
to suppress the rebellion,
690
00:31:46,269 --> 00:31:48,019
but I keep delaying my advance.
691
00:31:48,640 --> 00:31:50,539
If I hold up
the imperial court's important matters,
692
00:31:50,539 --> 00:31:51,670
who takes the blame,
693
00:31:52,069 --> 00:31:53,269
you or me?
694
00:31:57,029 --> 00:31:57,980
Your Highness.
695
00:31:59,640 --> 00:32:01,900
These merchants are extremely cunning.
696
00:32:02,269 --> 00:32:03,869
If we don't wait long enough,
697
00:32:03,880 --> 00:32:05,509
this won't succeed.
698
00:32:07,640 --> 00:32:08,579
Each of them
699
00:32:09,200 --> 00:32:11,920
is well-connected
with powerful officials at court.
700
00:32:11,920 --> 00:32:13,559
If they find a censor
701
00:32:13,750 --> 00:32:16,200
and report me for bleeding the locals dry,
702
00:32:17,480 --> 00:32:18,880
I won't be able to handle it.
703
00:32:18,880 --> 00:32:19,740
Your Highness.
704
00:32:20,640 --> 00:32:22,160
I'm a businessman.
705
00:32:23,269 --> 00:32:25,069
I understand businessmen best.
706
00:32:25,750 --> 00:32:26,720
These wealthy people
707
00:32:26,720 --> 00:32:28,720
may look generous from the outside,
708
00:32:29,160 --> 00:32:30,150
but deep down,
709
00:32:30,720 --> 00:32:32,650
every single one of them is stingy.
710
00:32:32,829 --> 00:32:35,029
Their money
is practically glued to their ribs.
711
00:32:35,029 --> 00:32:37,000
When you really ask them to hand it over,
712
00:32:37,000 --> 00:32:39,000
you'd need a pair of pliers
to pull it out,
713
00:32:39,000 --> 00:32:40,400
with the strength
714
00:32:40,400 --> 00:32:42,059
of ripping out their tendons.
715
00:32:43,309 --> 00:32:44,440
Three million taels
716
00:32:45,400 --> 00:32:47,000
won't come that easily.
717
00:32:52,640 --> 00:32:54,069
If you don't push them
718
00:32:54,109 --> 00:32:56,220
to the brink,
719
00:32:56,269 --> 00:32:58,960
you'll never get what you want.
720
00:33:01,720 --> 00:33:02,880
Does...
721
00:33:08,829 --> 00:33:10,630
King Li's Treasure really exist
722
00:33:12,400 --> 00:33:13,200
in this world?
723
00:33:21,509 --> 00:33:22,710
Your Highness, look.
724
00:33:23,680 --> 00:33:24,789
Pingyao and Taigu
725
00:33:24,960 --> 00:33:28,859
are the birthplaces of Shanxi's wealth.
726
00:33:29,029 --> 00:33:30,109
In terms of transportation,
727
00:33:30,109 --> 00:33:32,000
this region is surrounded by mountains.
728
00:33:32,000 --> 00:33:34,920
As for resources,
there are no gold or silver mines.
729
00:33:35,349 --> 00:33:36,200
As for talents,
730
00:33:36,200 --> 00:33:38,259
the people here are honest and plain,
731
00:33:38,269 --> 00:33:41,000
with no long tradition of doing business.
732
00:33:41,720 --> 00:33:43,720
Yet right after the Ming dynasty fell,
733
00:33:43,720 --> 00:33:46,829
these two places suddenly became rich.
734
00:33:48,000 --> 00:33:48,829
Now look here.
735
00:33:50,589 --> 00:33:52,250
These are Taihang Mountains.
736
00:33:52,309 --> 00:33:53,920
King Li fled along this route,
737
00:33:53,920 --> 00:33:56,049
spreading out from here to both sides.
738
00:33:57,349 --> 00:33:58,210
I'm certain...
739
00:33:59,829 --> 00:34:01,220
the treasure
740
00:34:02,000 --> 00:34:03,029
exists,
741
00:34:03,920 --> 00:34:04,589
and
742
00:34:05,750 --> 00:34:07,880
hasn't been much depleted.
743
00:34:09,840 --> 00:34:11,900
As for the so‑called Eight Families,
744
00:34:12,960 --> 00:34:14,360
they've been in business
745
00:34:14,840 --> 00:34:16,320
for generations.
746
00:34:18,280 --> 00:34:20,599
Business has its profits and losses.
747
00:34:21,320 --> 00:34:22,510
How have they stayed prosperous
748
00:34:22,510 --> 00:34:24,150
for over a hundred years?
749
00:34:25,360 --> 00:34:26,820
Where did their capital come from?
750
00:34:26,820 --> 00:34:28,800
How could this be possible?
751
00:34:31,510 --> 00:34:32,320
Li Wantang,
752
00:34:33,920 --> 00:34:34,960
Li Baiwan.
753
00:34:35,960 --> 00:34:37,000
You'd better
754
00:34:37,030 --> 00:34:38,059
not be wrong.
755
00:34:39,800 --> 00:34:42,030
I burned the military supplies,
756
00:34:43,000 --> 00:34:44,280
and that was your idea.
757
00:34:44,920 --> 00:34:46,360
If I delay the military operations,
758
00:34:46,360 --> 00:34:47,820
fail to find the treasure,
759
00:34:48,070 --> 00:34:50,599
and lose the military supplies
on top of that,
760
00:34:51,280 --> 00:34:52,610
then I'll have no choice
761
00:34:53,059 --> 00:34:54,820
but to use your head
762
00:34:55,440 --> 00:34:56,699
to make up for the loss.
763
00:34:58,230 --> 00:34:59,829
Your Highness, don't worry.
764
00:34:59,880 --> 00:35:00,550
Trust me.
765
00:35:01,360 --> 00:35:02,070
By then,
766
00:35:02,760 --> 00:35:04,289
the treasure will be yours,
767
00:35:04,360 --> 00:35:05,690
and Shanxi will be mine.
768
00:35:06,670 --> 00:35:09,000
As long as you understand what's at stake.
769
00:35:09,710 --> 00:35:10,539
Within 3 days,
770
00:35:10,710 --> 00:35:13,170
make up the money
for the military supplies.
771
00:35:13,269 --> 00:35:14,280
No matter what,
772
00:35:14,840 --> 00:35:17,369
I have to cross the Yellow River
into Shandong
773
00:35:18,150 --> 00:35:19,519
and fight this battle.
774
00:35:38,800 --> 00:35:39,440
Kang,
775
00:35:40,590 --> 00:35:42,119
how could you be so careless
776
00:35:42,510 --> 00:35:43,070
as to let
777
00:35:43,110 --> 00:35:44,849
the military supplies
778
00:35:45,010 --> 00:35:45,670
get burned?
779
00:35:45,880 --> 00:35:47,610
You think I wanted them burned?
780
00:35:48,280 --> 00:35:49,920
I never wanted to take the deal
in the first place.
781
00:35:49,920 --> 00:35:50,800
The local officials
782
00:35:50,800 --> 00:35:51,800
forced me to do it.
783
00:35:52,110 --> 00:35:52,760
The fire
784
00:35:53,230 --> 00:35:54,690
must have been set by them.
785
00:35:56,000 --> 00:35:57,730
Putting everything together,
786
00:35:59,250 --> 00:36:00,960
this might be a chain of traps.
787
00:36:01,320 --> 00:36:03,070
They burned
His Highness's military supplies,
788
00:36:03,070 --> 00:36:04,960
forced the Kang family
to sell their property,
789
00:36:04,960 --> 00:36:05,590
then
790
00:36:06,670 --> 00:36:08,150
arrested everyone—
791
00:36:08,590 --> 00:36:11,389
step by step
leading to the situation we're in now.
792
00:36:11,480 --> 00:36:12,829
Even if every one of you
793
00:36:12,920 --> 00:36:13,630
could bring out
794
00:36:13,630 --> 00:36:14,960
3 million taels in cash,
795
00:36:15,320 --> 00:36:16,070
they would still
796
00:36:16,070 --> 00:36:17,199
keep squeezing you.
797
00:36:17,630 --> 00:36:19,409
Because what they truly want
798
00:36:20,000 --> 00:36:21,260
is King Li's Treasure.
799
00:36:34,110 --> 00:36:35,550
Why do people in this world
800
00:36:35,550 --> 00:36:36,960
love to talk nonsense?
801
00:36:42,400 --> 00:36:43,550
As the saying goes,
802
00:36:44,030 --> 00:36:46,320
"a gentleman's only crime
is to carry a jade."
803
00:36:46,320 --> 00:36:47,590
Whether we admit it or not,
804
00:36:47,590 --> 00:36:48,960
as long as they believe we have it,
805
00:36:48,960 --> 00:36:49,840
we're guilty.
806
00:36:51,150 --> 00:36:51,960
I'm thinking
807
00:36:52,030 --> 00:36:53,829
that this stalemate can't go on.
808
00:36:54,280 --> 00:36:55,940
We should talk to His Highness
809
00:36:56,440 --> 00:36:58,440
and have both sides take a step back.
810
00:37:04,590 --> 00:37:05,860
Such childish talk.
811
00:37:06,840 --> 00:37:08,510
Why would he take a step back?
812
00:37:09,150 --> 00:37:10,400
To the government,
813
00:37:10,670 --> 00:37:12,599
we're nothing but ants.
814
00:37:15,360 --> 00:37:16,760
If they find out
815
00:37:16,840 --> 00:37:17,440
we don't have
816
00:37:17,440 --> 00:37:18,900
King Li's Treasure at all,
817
00:37:20,070 --> 00:37:23,329
we probably won't even get
this spoiled porridge anymore.
818
00:37:23,510 --> 00:37:24,670
That makes sense.
819
00:37:31,510 --> 00:37:32,320
Do you
820
00:37:32,880 --> 00:37:33,670
really have
821
00:37:33,710 --> 00:37:34,920
3 million taels in cash
822
00:37:34,920 --> 00:37:36,030
on hand right now?
823
00:37:36,710 --> 00:37:38,150
We already said we don't.
824
00:37:39,190 --> 00:37:41,190
The money in the draft banks
belongs to the depositors.
825
00:37:41,190 --> 00:37:42,170
Our own capital
826
00:37:42,510 --> 00:37:43,769
is all tied up in goods.
827
00:37:44,000 --> 00:37:45,000
You don't have it.
828
00:37:46,150 --> 00:37:47,150
Even if you don't, we can't just
829
00:37:47,150 --> 00:37:48,360
sit here and let them push us to death,
830
00:37:48,360 --> 00:37:48,760
right?
831
00:37:51,150 --> 00:37:52,010
Then tell us,
832
00:37:52,440 --> 00:37:53,440
what should we do?
833
00:37:54,760 --> 00:37:55,639
I've been thinking—
834
00:37:55,639 --> 00:37:57,639
no matter how wealthy Li Wantang is,
835
00:37:57,880 --> 00:37:58,940
at the end of the day
836
00:37:59,030 --> 00:38:00,510
he's a merchant just like us.
837
00:38:00,510 --> 00:38:01,769
Everything he's doing
838
00:38:01,800 --> 00:38:02,670
is simply
839
00:38:02,710 --> 00:38:04,840
to seize control of all the draft banks
840
00:38:04,840 --> 00:38:05,840
in Shanxi.
841
00:38:06,960 --> 00:38:08,159
Here's what we can do.
842
00:38:08,550 --> 00:38:10,690
First, we give His Highness an IOU,
843
00:38:11,360 --> 00:38:13,760
pretending we're willing
to take on this debt
844
00:38:13,760 --> 00:38:15,289
and will deliver the silver
845
00:38:15,400 --> 00:38:16,659
on the date he sets. His
846
00:38:16,960 --> 00:38:17,690
His Highness
847
00:38:17,710 --> 00:38:19,039
isn't a local official.
848
00:38:19,280 --> 00:38:21,409
He could be called to war at any moment.
849
00:38:21,480 --> 00:38:23,230
24 million taels of silver
850
00:38:23,320 --> 00:38:24,190
can't be spent
851
00:38:24,230 --> 00:38:25,230
in just one night.
852
00:38:26,110 --> 00:38:27,360
As long as he gives us some time
853
00:38:27,360 --> 00:38:28,280
to maneuver,
854
00:38:28,570 --> 00:38:29,570
we can turn around
855
00:38:29,590 --> 00:38:30,320
and go all out
856
00:38:30,320 --> 00:38:31,440
against Li Wantang
857
00:38:32,630 --> 00:38:34,159
and force him out of Shanxi.
858
00:38:34,710 --> 00:38:35,230
I believe that
859
00:38:35,230 --> 00:38:36,960
without His Highness backing him,
860
00:38:36,960 --> 00:38:37,710
he wouldn't
861
00:38:37,760 --> 00:38:39,019
have such great power.
862
00:38:39,670 --> 00:38:40,510
No way.
863
00:38:42,400 --> 00:38:44,230
It's easy for the Eight Families
to accept the debt,
864
00:38:44,230 --> 00:38:45,940
but Li Wantang isn't a child.
865
00:38:46,360 --> 00:38:47,760
He has plenty of methods.
866
00:38:48,030 --> 00:38:49,329
If he makes this IOU
867
00:38:49,630 --> 00:38:50,320
public
868
00:38:50,670 --> 00:38:52,110
and announces that our draft banks
869
00:38:52,110 --> 00:38:53,769
owe the imperial court money,
870
00:38:54,000 --> 00:38:54,929
our credibility
871
00:38:55,360 --> 00:38:56,550
will be ruined overnight.
872
00:38:56,550 --> 00:38:57,920
The depositors will fear
873
00:38:57,920 --> 00:38:59,030
we're using their money
874
00:38:59,030 --> 00:39:01,230
to fill the imperial court's
bottomless pit.
875
00:39:01,230 --> 00:39:02,429
If there's a bank run,
876
00:39:02,960 --> 00:39:04,219
how could we handle it?
877
00:39:06,480 --> 00:39:07,190
Who says business
878
00:39:07,190 --> 00:39:08,989
must be done with actual silver?
879
00:39:14,590 --> 00:39:15,110
Bro,
880
00:39:15,480 --> 00:39:17,110
you've had too much spoiled porridge.
881
00:39:17,110 --> 00:39:18,369
Your brain's gone off.
882
00:39:22,400 --> 00:39:23,070
Madam.
883
00:39:23,880 --> 00:39:25,760
Right now none of us
has a single coin on hand.
884
00:39:25,760 --> 00:39:26,630
But I want to make a business deal
885
00:39:26,630 --> 00:39:27,920
of 100 thousand taels with you.
886
00:39:27,920 --> 00:39:28,920
Is that possible?
887
00:39:31,150 --> 00:39:32,110
For example,
888
00:39:32,190 --> 00:39:33,389
this bowl in your hand
889
00:39:33,550 --> 00:39:34,590
is worth 100 thousand taels.
890
00:39:34,590 --> 00:39:35,190
I want it.
891
00:39:36,280 --> 00:39:37,190
But all my money
892
00:39:37,230 --> 00:39:38,480
is deposited with Manager Sun.
893
00:39:38,480 --> 00:39:39,409
What should I do?
894
00:39:41,360 --> 00:39:42,090
Manager Sun,
895
00:39:42,280 --> 00:39:43,880
please give me 100 thousand taels.
896
00:39:43,880 --> 00:39:45,210
I don't have any silver.
897
00:39:45,360 --> 00:39:47,030
And even if I did, carrying it around
898
00:39:47,030 --> 00:39:48,150
would be troublesome.
899
00:39:48,150 --> 00:39:50,150
Your jade pendant looks quite nice.
900
00:39:51,320 --> 00:39:53,119
Could you give it to me as a token?
901
00:39:54,070 --> 00:39:54,800
That's easy.
902
00:39:58,960 --> 00:39:59,650
Madam,
903
00:40:00,070 --> 00:40:01,079
Manager Sun said
904
00:40:01,230 --> 00:40:03,030
that as long as you see this token,
905
00:40:03,030 --> 00:40:03,769
you'll know
906
00:40:03,800 --> 00:40:04,670
that the 100 thousand taels
907
00:40:04,670 --> 00:40:06,150
have already been credited
to your account.
908
00:40:06,150 --> 00:40:07,079
With this token,
909
00:40:07,110 --> 00:40:07,760
may I
910
00:40:07,800 --> 00:40:09,150
take this bowl now?
911
00:40:09,880 --> 00:40:11,480
Was this agreed upon before?
912
00:40:11,510 --> 00:40:13,110
When we conduct a real transaction,
913
00:40:13,110 --> 00:40:14,280
we need a contract.
914
00:40:14,840 --> 00:40:15,369
This way,
915
00:40:15,880 --> 00:40:17,000
the Eight Families can handle
916
00:40:17,000 --> 00:40:18,960
entries and records
from one account to another
917
00:40:18,960 --> 00:40:20,320
without using a single tael
918
00:40:20,320 --> 00:40:21,380
of cash.
919
00:40:21,920 --> 00:40:23,510
If there's a bank run,
920
00:40:23,550 --> 00:40:25,280
the combined strength
of the Eight Families
921
00:40:25,280 --> 00:40:27,340
will be more than enough to handle it.
922
00:40:27,510 --> 00:40:28,590
And if each family acts alone,
923
00:40:28,590 --> 00:40:30,050
each can use its own credit
924
00:40:30,070 --> 00:40:31,469
to guarantee the others.
925
00:40:31,590 --> 00:40:33,579
Transaction records must be kept
926
00:40:33,840 --> 00:40:35,280
for year-end accounting.
927
00:40:35,280 --> 00:40:36,190
As long as the business
928
00:40:36,190 --> 00:40:37,590
stays within the Eight Families,
929
00:40:37,590 --> 00:40:38,530
one written note
930
00:40:38,630 --> 00:40:40,429
can be worth a million in silver.
931
00:40:40,510 --> 00:40:41,840
What do you think of this method?
932
00:40:41,840 --> 00:40:42,690
But what if...
933
00:40:43,880 --> 00:40:44,760
What if one family
934
00:40:44,760 --> 00:40:45,960
breaks the rules?
935
00:40:47,400 --> 00:40:49,440
What if one of them faces a bank run
936
00:40:49,630 --> 00:40:51,489
and the others don't know in time,
937
00:40:51,510 --> 00:40:54,030
and the funds
can't be shifted quickly enough?
938
00:40:54,030 --> 00:40:54,559
And also,
939
00:40:55,150 --> 00:40:56,610
what if all Eight Families
940
00:40:56,800 --> 00:40:58,530
face a bank run at the same time?
941
00:40:59,630 --> 00:41:01,360
We can appoint a chief manager
942
00:41:01,880 --> 00:41:03,400
to check the funds every day
943
00:41:03,400 --> 00:41:04,659
and publicly announce
944
00:41:04,670 --> 00:41:06,030
an alliance of the Eight Families.
945
00:41:06,030 --> 00:41:07,550
That way, even if a bank run happens,
946
00:41:07,550 --> 00:41:09,210
the impact won't be too great.
947
00:41:09,440 --> 00:41:11,320
Maybe one or two families will suffer,
948
00:41:11,320 --> 00:41:12,230
but it shouldn't be too hard
949
00:41:12,230 --> 00:41:13,590
to handle.
950
00:41:13,920 --> 00:41:14,630
Good.
951
00:41:15,510 --> 00:41:16,440
It's truly good.
952
00:41:16,670 --> 00:41:17,400
If we had thought of
953
00:41:17,400 --> 00:41:18,199
this earlier,
954
00:41:18,550 --> 00:41:19,150
Li Baiwan
955
00:41:19,190 --> 00:41:20,710
would never have gained
a foothold in Shanxi,
956
00:41:20,710 --> 00:41:21,480
and we wouldn't have been
957
00:41:21,480 --> 00:41:23,340
taken advantage of by outsiders.
958
00:41:25,190 --> 00:41:26,400
So who will take
959
00:41:27,360 --> 00:41:29,019
this chief manager position?
960
00:41:32,590 --> 00:41:33,989
How about letting me try?
961
00:41:36,510 --> 00:41:37,969
It's just for show anyway,
962
00:41:38,190 --> 00:41:39,480
just to get through
963
00:41:39,550 --> 00:41:41,079
our current difficulties.
964
00:41:42,440 --> 00:41:43,179
That is,
965
00:41:43,300 --> 00:41:44,400
if you consider me
966
00:41:44,440 --> 00:41:45,530
one of your own.
967
00:41:45,840 --> 00:41:46,840
We've been eating
968
00:41:47,000 --> 00:41:49,280
spoiled porridge
from the same pot these past few days.
969
00:41:49,280 --> 00:41:50,739
Of course you're one of us.
970
00:41:51,150 --> 00:41:53,280
You're part of the Eight Families now.
971
00:41:53,880 --> 00:41:55,280
I don't think letting him join
972
00:41:55,280 --> 00:41:56,150
is a bad idea.
973
00:41:57,400 --> 00:41:57,929
Alright.
974
00:41:58,550 --> 00:42:00,150
You'll be the chief manager.
975
00:42:00,360 --> 00:42:01,469
It was your idea.
976
00:42:01,800 --> 00:42:03,400
Show everyone how it's done.
977
00:42:03,590 --> 00:42:05,250
Does anyone have objections?
978
00:42:12,800 --> 00:42:13,329
Alright.
979
00:42:14,000 --> 00:42:14,880
In that case,
980
00:42:15,360 --> 00:42:16,670
I hope by this time tomorrow,
981
00:42:16,670 --> 00:42:18,760
we're no longer eating spoiled porridge.
982
00:42:18,760 --> 00:42:20,360
I'll go negotiate with them.
983
00:42:22,710 --> 00:42:23,510
It's settled.
984
00:42:24,960 --> 00:42:25,820
Guards!
985
00:42:26,150 --> 00:42:27,610
I need to see His Highness!
986
00:42:28,440 --> 00:42:29,440
Send out my order.
987
00:42:29,480 --> 00:42:30,679
Deploy 20,000 troops
988
00:42:30,960 --> 00:42:32,280
to Mount Liang area
989
00:42:33,230 --> 00:42:34,789
and tighten the net.
990
00:42:37,760 --> 00:42:38,619
Your Highness.
991
00:42:42,760 --> 00:42:44,670
I would like to report to you on behalf of
992
00:42:44,670 --> 00:42:46,329
the Eight Families of Hedong.
993
00:42:46,469 --> 00:42:48,130
I request a private audience.
994
00:42:52,440 --> 00:42:53,570
A private audience?
995
00:42:54,590 --> 00:42:56,119
You think you deserve that?
996
00:42:56,280 --> 00:42:57,400
I don't, of course.
997
00:43:00,440 --> 00:43:01,300
But does silver
998
00:43:01,630 --> 00:43:02,760
deserve it?59563
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